Colorado Rapids Scouting Report

Colorado (4-4-3, 15 pts.) enters Buck Shaw Stadium fourth in the Western Conference. After missing the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2012, the Rapids have added a few new pieces, including rookies Deshorn Brown and Dillon Powers, former LA Galaxy target man Edson Buddle and veteran forward Atiba Harris. The group has contributed to an improved start to Colorado’s 2013 campaign with Brown, Buddle and Powers leading the squad with two goals apiece. In their last outing, Colorado knocked off the Columbus Crew 2-0 on the road. Buddle and Powers netted the goals while goalkeeper Clint Irwin made seven saves for his fourth clean sheet of the season.

Of Note

- Chris Wondolowski scored four goals in three games against Colorado last year, including a hat-trick in the third and final meeting. That three-goal performance allowed him to break San Jose’s all-time scoring record. Wondolowski has seven goals and one assist in 12 games against Colorado in his career. He has scored at least one goal every year against Colorado since joining the Earthquakes in 2009.

- San Jose is 24-18-9 all-time against Colorado. They are 18-12-9 against the Rapids since changing name from Clash to Earthquakes in 2000.

- The Earthquakes defeated the Rapids all three times they faced off last season, outscoring them 10-3. The third win last year sealed San Jose as the top-seed in the Western Conference.